Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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560. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will establish an independent external investigation into the alleged bullying and sexual harassment being reported within the National Museum of Ireland. [53056/17]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware the National Museum of Ireland is a statutory body under the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 and I have no responsibility for the day to day operations of the Museum.

I am aware, however, that there are legacy HR issues at the Museum and the Board and management are taking steps to address these issues.

While I cannot get involved in HR matters, which are a matter for the executive and the Board of the Museum, my Department has provided additional support in dealing with the legacy issues. This support includes sanction for three specific HR positions and two temporary positions for the Corporate Services area of the Museum to assist in this process.

The Chair and the new Board were appointed in July 2016 and are implementing change in the Museum, as well as preparing new plans to improve the museum's services to the public over the coming years. My Department and I are supportive of these plans.

Separately, in light of allegations of abuse of power and sexual harassment elsewhere within the arts sector, my Department has identified a number of actions to be taken in relation to bodies reporting directly to my Department including our National Cultural Institutions.

These include arranging dedicated workshops for board members and senior staff of bodies reporting to the Department dealing with governance. There will be a particular emphasis on issues relating to bullying, abuse of power and sexual harassment in the workplace.

I consider that the support for the Board which I have outlined above is the most appropriate way for my Department to deal with the legacy issues that have arisen in the Museum and I will continue to support the Museum in dealing with legacy issues and implementing any reform it sees as necessary.